The best cars in class for economy

Motorists will feel the pinch of the federal budget in the future as the fuel levy rises in step with inflation.

The price of petrol is expected to increase four to five cents a litre over the next five years in a bid to net the government more than $2.4 billion in additional revenue, a change that could influence decisions in Australia’s 1.1 million-strong new vehicle market.

That’s before the natural price rises – or fluctuations - that are likely to contiknue in line with changes to supply and demand or changes in the exchange rate.

The 10 per cent GST goes on top of the lot – and there’s a very strong chance that will increase as well going on the response to the budget.

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It all adds up to more expensive fuel, sooner rather than later.

Not that we’re not already feeling it. Motorists are currently paying record prices for a litre of unleaded, with average fuel costs rising from 90.4¢ to 147.9¢ a litre in the past 10 years.

So what is the best way to reduce your fuel bills?

Some may choose the cheapest or most efficient vehicle in each class, but that can bring significant price premiums or compromises – or both.

The cheapest cars in each class may also lack fuel-saving technology that will make them less of a bargain across years of ownership.

Diesel cars offer strong efficiency at a price, with most brands charging a significant premium for diesel hardware. Think between $2500 or $10,000 more than an equivalent petrol model, something that could take hundreds of thousands of kilometres to be paid back.

The same argument often applies to hybrid cars, which cost more to buy than regular models.

Here are Drive’s recommendations of the best cars to keep your weekly fuel bills down.

Keep in mind all the fuel figures are government-derived from laboratory testing and are not always representative of what you’ll achieve in real world driving. Our recommendation would be to add between 30 per cent and 60 per cent to the quoted figures, depending on your driving.

City cars

Most fuel efficient in class: Mitsubishi i-Miev (0L/100km)

Least fuel efficient in class: Proton Gen.2 (7.9L/100km)

Drive recommends: Toyota Prius C (3.9L/100km)

Compact city cars are a great place to start for people looking to conserve fuel. Mitsubishi’s fully electric i-Miev uses no but has a claimed range of just 150 kilometres and is expensive for what you get.

Toyota’s Prius C hybrid is an excellent compromise of petrol and electric abilities, blending real-world usability with strong fuel economy from $23,990 plus on-road and dealer costs. It works best around town, where it’s electric motors can capture energy normally lost as heat through the braking system.

Small cars

Small cars aren’t too small these days, something that has contributed to an increase in their popularity.

The Nissan Leaf finds fuel from powerpoints as opposed to petrol stations, and offers a range of up to 170 kilometres. That won’t be enough for some tech-savvy buyers, who may gravitate to Holden’s Volt that uses a petrol engine to bolster its batteries on longer trips, offering a range of more than 600km and an official fuel consumption figure of 1.2L/100km; in reality it’ll use no fuel most of the time and upwards of 7L/100km on long journeys where you’re using the petrol engine as a generator.

The $59,990 Volt is priced well higher than other cars its size, which could push buyers to settle for Toyota’s 3.9L/100km Prius at $33,990.

But our money can’t go past the $20,490 Mazda3, which uses just 5.1L/100km of petrol. It has clever technology such as a stop-start system as well as a relatively new engine that puts it well ahead of most rivals in the same price bracket.

Family cars

Most fuel efficient in class: Toyota Camry Hybrid (5.2L/100km)

Least fuel efficient in class: HSV GTS manual (14.8L/100km)

Drive recommends: Toyota Camry Hybrid (5.2L/100km)

Sales of sedans have slowed as buyers switch to smaller cars and SUVs.

The home-grown V8 retains plenty of lead-foot appeal but can’t cut it at the pump, where fuel use in excess of 10L/100km is common.

That said, both hybrid and diesel models come at a significant premium over regular petrol cars, and motorists who don’t travel far each year may be better served with a conventional petrol option.

SUV under $40,000

Most fuel efficient in class: Peugeot 2008 HDi (4.0L/100km)

Least fuel efficient in class: Suzuki Grand Vitara (9.9L/100km)

Drive recommends: Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport diesel (5.7L/100km)

Compact SUVs are booming in popularity thanks to a combination of added versatility, butch looks and smaller dimensions than conventional sedans.­

Many offer strong economy, though it must be said that their sedan or hatchback cousins will be sharper on the fuel front.

The new generation of city-sized SUVs such asthe Peugeot 2008 are among the most efficient cars on sale, and few models can top the Peugeot’s 4L/100km fuel economy.

But we would lean towards cars that are a full size bigger, and more suited to family life. Diesel variants of the Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander offer 5.8L/100km economy for a touch under $40,000, but our pick is the Mazda CX-5, Drive’s two-time car of the year winner for this class of car. The CX-5 has a fuel sticker of 5.7L/100km and is a better drive than other models in its class.

SUV over $40,000

Most fuel efficient in class: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: (1.9L/100km)

Least fuel efficient in class: Mercedes-Benz G500 (14.9L/100km)

Drive recommends: Kia Sorento diesel (7.3L/100km)

Technology is on show in this class of car, where there are dozens of diesel and hybrid options. Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid Outlander is the most efficient on paper, using just 1.9L/100km. Like the Volt, it can use almost no fuel if you confine it to shorter trips and don’t accelerate too hard. But get enthusiastic and it can easily use 9L/100km.

Steering towards more conventional options,the Lexus RX450h is a standout as a full-sized petrol hybrid SUV that uses 6.4L/100km, but an entry price of $82,900 plus on-road costs could turn buyers off.

Kia’s Sorento diesel offers 7.3L/100km economy for half the cost, as does its South Korean twin, the Hyundai Santa Fe. Both use a grunty 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine and bring plenty of value for about $50,000.

Ute

Most fuel efficient in class: Volkswagen Amarok TDI 340 (7.3L/100km)

Least fuel efficient in class: FPV GS auto (14.2L/100km)

Drive recommends: Volkswagen Amarok TDI 340 (7.3L/100km)

The worksite today is dominated by diesel utes, which are among the most popular new cars on sale. Fuel misers should forget about Australian-built six- and eight-cylinder models, particularly if carrying decent payloads.

Priced from $58,900 plus on-road costs, the Lexus is well equipped with luxury features, while offering excellent balance from its rear-wheel-drive platform.

The hybrid Lexus seamlessly blends a 133kW four-cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor that combine to offer frugal running and a decent amount of performance.

Fuel saving tips

Drive smoothly

Smooth acceleration and braking techniques are key to strong fuel economy. Be careful with your inputs and watch the road ahead to minimise unnecessary acceleration or braking.

Reduce drag

Roof racks, spoilers, wide tyres and open windows can contribute towards aerodynamic drag that can have a dramatic effect on fuel economy. Consider whether accessories must be mounted at all times, or whether you need them at all.

Keep up to date with maintenance

Cars that are not serviced regularly may not run as efficiently, costing you at the bowser. Make sure your car is serviced according to its schedule.

Weight is the enemy of efficiency, and every extra kilo you carry requires more fuel to make it move. Clean up the car and get that junk off the parcel shelf or out of the boot.

Think twice about cruise control

It can be handy but cruise control is not as intuitive as a human. They can accelerate at the top of a hill unnecessarily, for example, or accelerate up to traffic. In some conditions you can save fuel by taking control.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story listed the Renault Koleos as the least fuel efficient in its SUV category. This was incorrect and the story has been updated.

68 comments so far

Ride a bicycle.

And get fit and healthy at the same time :)

Commenter

Dr Mat

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 2:03PM

Sounds too easy.IT MUST BE A TRAP !

Commenter

neverclimbed32

Location

Date and time

May 27, 2014, 1:06PM

Why not motorbikes for commuting the longer distances, They're the fastest growing license class in the country currently and will continue to see numbers grow due to these changes I'd predict. This budget may also have the undesired effect (by Liberal standards that is) of pushing more people to public transport and push bikes for their daily commute too.

Commenter

Brian

Location

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 2:43PM

Motorbikes actually emit many times the toxic chemical cocktail that cars do. True, slightly less CO2 (for one, sometimes two passengers and very little baggage) but a lot more dangerous gases and particulates.Look up the World Health Organisation data if you don't believe me. "Tests on a selection of modern motorbikes and private cars revealed that rather than being more environmentally-friendly, motorbikes emit 16 times the amount of hydrocarbons, including greenhouse gases, three times the carbon monoxide and a "disproportionately high" amount of other pollutants, compared to cars."

Commenter

accent

Location

France

Date and time

May 30, 2014, 4:39AM

My stop/start system over 1000km of city driving has saved....936ml of fuel. I guess thats something; but stop/start is purely designed to game the official fuel tests, not somethng that makes a difference in real life.

Why nominate a diesel as a city car?

I'm sure plenty of others will say 'fuel is not the only expense for a car'

Commenter

asdf

Location

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 3:03PM

ps: why do we have SUV under and over $40k, but nothing for wagons? A better choice, often, than an SUVs. The family cars chosen, other than the Passat, do not have wagon options

Commenter

asdf

Location

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 3:05PM

This article is a nice idea, but the people who read Drive really only care about being seen in the kind of car they think best reflects who they want to be seen as. This is why there are so many massive faux-wheel drives and bogan tradie 4-door utes being sold in Australia; people will pick vanity and image over fuel-efficiency, even when petrol hits $2 per litre.

Commenter

nice idea

Location

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 3:47PM

Just shows that the fuel is too cheap in here. I crease the tax maybe?

Commenter

iLatte

Location

Date and time

May 26, 2014, 2:21PM

how about not jumping in your car to head 2 km down to the shops on the weekend, waiting 1/2 hour in stationary traffic? sounds ridiculous? it's the norm!

Commenter

eddy the cannibal merckx

Location

melb

Date and time

May 23, 2014, 3:51PM

I love my Prius C. It uses about 4 litres per 100 kilometres, it is quiet, smooth, fast, easy to park, good visibility, no range issues and saves me 50% of the petrol cost from my previous non hybrid similar size car.

No plugging in, no switching from electric to petrol, all automatic and it recharges itself as you drive. Fabulous 21st century technology. Everyone should have a hybrid.